Use of honey as a bioindicator: an integrative review

This integrative literature review aimed to evaluate the use of honey produced by bees of the genus Apis as a bioindicator. From 177 records identified in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, 30 studies published between 2019 and 2025 were selected and analyzed. Only publications addressing the use of honey as an “environmental bioindicator” were found. The studies covered different groups of pollutants, including potentially toxic elements (PTEs), agrochemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), radionuclides, microplastics, flame retardants, plasticizers, and bisphenol A. The results show that honey is a suitable matrix capable of reflecting the environmental presence of various contaminants, although it exhibits low sensitivity to some of them due to its physicochemical characteristics and the natural barriers imposed by bee physiology. Studies indicate that other hive matrices, such as pollen, wax, propolis, and adult bees, often demonstrate greater efficiency in detecting certain pollutants, reinforcing the need for multi-matrix approaches. Despite the observed limitations, the literature indicates that honey is a promising tool for environmental biomonitoring, especially when integrated with robust analytical methods and complemented by the use of other apicultural matrices.